The Smithsonian National Zoo's history with giant pandas began in 1972. The first pair, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, were presented to the nation's capital as a gift after President Richard M. Nixon's historic visit to China. There were five cubs born through their mating but none of the cubs lived more then a few days. Ling-Ling the female, died in 1992 at age 23 of age-related heart failure. Hsing-Hsing was euthanized in 1999 at age 28 because of kidney problems. 
On December 6, 2000, two new pandas arrived in D.C. to live in the refurbished quarters at the Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat. The male, Tian Tian (t-YEN t-YEN) and female, Mei Xiang (may SHONG) made the 17-hour flight from China, accompanied by two of their regular Chinese keepers at the Wolong Nature Reserve. Both pandas were born at the center in Wolong, Sichuan Province. Mei Xiang, was born on July 22, 1998 and her name means 'beautiful fragrance", Tian was born on August 27, 1997 and his name means "more and more." Besides his weight of 275, Tian's kidney-bean shaped eye patches help to tell him apart from Mei who weighs about 230 lbs. Mei has a very round head with rounded eye patches.
Because their natural mating was not successful, zoo scientists and veterinarians performed an artificial insemination on Mei Xiang on March 11, 2005. On July 9, 2005 a male panda cub was born and later would be named, Tai Shan which means "peaceful mountain". No bigger then the size of a stick of butter, the cubs birth generated headlines across the country.
The NZ has two live cams that operate 24 hours a day. One is focused on Tai Shan, as he lives in his own enclosures separate from his mom and dad. The other camera is on Mei and Tian. Due to the fact that Tian's genes have become increasingly represented in the overall gene pool of the giant panda, this spring when Mei comes into estrus, more then likely, the veterinarians will work in cooperation with the San Diego Zoo and use the sperm of Gao Gao who has mated successfully twice with his mate Bai Yun, having two offspring of their own, at the San Diego Zoo. Gao is a wild panda that was rescued due to a serious injury.
There are no admission fees at the Smithsonian National Zoo, and they are always having special events going on throughout the year. Coming up in December will be Zoo Lights, so be sure to visit and say hello to Mei, Tian and Tai Shan.
